Leader Writer: Paojel Chaoba
It may be said that Manipur does not lack issues, be it decade old ones like electricity, AFSPA, insurgency etc., but new ones still crop up to occupy the mind and sentiments of the public. One among the latest is the seeming impasse regarding the royal palace.
Since the cabinet announcement to renovate the building to make it a historical site, several organizations have cried foul and demonstrations are still underway. It is interesting to speculate on what the outcome may turn out to be and in whose favour the cards will fall. We have on one hand, the titular King Leisemba Sanajaoba and his council backed up by civil bodies whereas we have on the other, the SPF government and his cabinet. During the second tenure of the SPF led by Ibobi Singh, myriad eviction drives have taken place and to name a few , for expansion of the roads, arable land for augmenting the airport and even to the extent of driving out fisher folks from their makeshift huts at Loktak lake. During the announcements for the land acquisitions and further follow up evictions, there was utmost hue and cry raised from the affected sections and concerned organizations. But, despite the uproars and post wasting the rubber bullets and tear gas of the state home department, things always turn up roses for the SPF and the loud voices mostly are no longer heard from again. The State has always had its way. It is rumored in many sections that some agitations are just an exercise to build up the pitch for arranging a sumptuous compensation amount with the government, whether be it true or not is another matter.
Now we have to see what happens to the stand-off between the titular King and the ‘King’ so appointed by the people and carrying the torch for the Congress Party. Will Ibobi respect his own cabinet decision or will there be an exception in the case of the Sana Konung. But, if so, then this will be the first reprieve regarding the issue of land acquisition which was not given to the public by his government and the titular King in his triumph could be carried in a palanquin throughout Imphal city and showered with flowers. Better yet, if the matter so turns out, then his highness could even enter the political arena and carry the real mandate of his subjects to higher levels. ‘Give or take’, the situation may be compared to two boxers in the ring in a “King Vs King” fight and the Manipuri public has the best seat in the house and best yet, with nothing to lose.
Manipur has a recorded history since 33 AD, but it is a globalised world today and feudalism is more or less; history . Speaking of Manipur and as per records of Chitharol Kumbaba, the chronicles of the Kings of Manipur, the history seems vexed with incessant ‘feud’s amongst the royal lineage. The last may be mentioned to be the precursor of the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 and the British arrival at Kangla. Later, the now debated Sana Konung and along with Govinda temple was built for Churachand Maharaj by the British then.
One year before statehood, the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi scrapped the payment of more than 600 princely states through the nation, Manipur included. Bereft of privileges enjoyed earlier, the recent royal lineage more or less lost the land encompassing Sana Konung to private hands and remains still, it may have been done to retain the last essence of kingship or to maintain the ‘household’. The then nearly 13 acres is now down to a mere 2.5 acres. The Pakhangba temple, Yumjao Lairenbi temple, Royal Durbar Hall is in a state of decay. It would be false to say that the Sana Konung fares better.
Instead of complicating the issue and putting pressure on either side, it would be logical to settle matters in a fashion befitting rulers instead of resembling paper tigers. Diplomacy is the need of the hour and the concerned parties’ needs to take a step backward to bring about an amicable solution. Leisemba Sanajaoba and his advisors need to table the matter with the ministry. It would not shame the SPF to renovate the palace and maintaining it ,meanwhile letting the King and his family reside during his time while imposing certain restrictions for others, thus making it a ‘living museum’ . There can be other solutions and a viable one can be agreed upon without resorting to assumed SPF despotism. The King’s advisory also need to think forward and not resort to feudalistic fundamentalism, a kingdom without a king may be problematic but more so for a King without one.
Manipur needs to forge ahead, hypothetically said. Watching the rear mirror all the time while driving would deter the vehicle from moving forward or more seriously even lead to an accident, injuring self or others. With the advent of globalization and the myriad issues in its tow, we need to pull up our socks and get ready for the more serious and pressing matters. But, to continue in disunity could be akin to fighting over the remote control for viewing favorite channels while the house is burning down on top of us.